Picture-hanger.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1908:

J.; N. COPELAND.

PICTURE HANGER.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 16, 1906.

EWJ Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH NEWTON COPELAND, OF ALTOONA, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO J. N. RIGKLES, OF ALTOONA, ALABAMA.

PICTURE-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 15, 1906.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Serial No. 321,891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH NEWTON COPE- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Etowah and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Picture-Hanger, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in picture hangers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of picture hangers, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient device adapted to be readily applied to a picture, and capable of enabling the same to be readily hung from a nail, or from a molding and of efiectually preventing a picture from being accidentally knocked down, when suspended from a nail, screw or similar supporting device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picture hanger of this character, which will enable the angle or inclination of a picture to bereadily changed, and which will obviate the necessity ofproviding a shelf, or other means for supporting the lower edge of a picture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and ointed out in the claims hereto appended it eing understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages of t e invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a picture rovided with a picture hanger, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, illustrating the construction of the device for adjustably supporting the chain, which. is connected with the picture. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the brace, which is connected with the bottom of the picture.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw mg.

1 designates a chain, connected at its upper end with the center of the top of a picture frame 2 by means of a screw eye 3, or other suitable fastening device, and secured at its lower end to an a proximately inverted V- shaped brace 4:. he chain is preferably provided at its upper end with a hook 5 for engaging the screw eye 3, and the bill of the hook is adapted to be bent inward toward the shank of the hook for confining the screw eye to revent the chain from becoming disengage therefrom.

The chain, which constitutes a picture cord, is adjustably supported at an intermediate oint by the means hereinafter described and it consists of a lower vertical portion extending downwardly from the supporting means, and an inclined top portion extending outwardly from the supporting means, the two portions being ada ted to have their relative length varied y the movement of the picture cord through the supporting means to change the inclination of a picture.

The brace, which is preferably constructed of wire, consists of inclined sides connected together at their upper ends, and having their lower or outer portions 6 bent horizontally to form pivots or pintles, which are arranged in bearin leaves 8. The wire, of which the brace is constructed, is bent at the upper ends of the inclined sides to form an eye ring 4 and it is twisted at the bottom thereof. The lower end of the chain is preferably provided with a hook 1 which is linked into the eye 4*, and which is preferably closed to secure it in engagement with the same. The terminals of the wire, of which the brace is constructed, are bent at an angle to retain the pivots in the eyes of the plates or leaves, which are secure to the bottom of the ictureframe at the corners thereof, where y the brace is hinged to the picture frame, and is adapted to adjust itself to theposition of the same.

The chain passes over a sprocket wheel 9, and the links of the chain mesh with the sprocket teeth of the wheel, which is centrally ournaled in suitable bearings 10 of a slide 11. The sprocket Wheel is provided with suitable journals, preferably formed by ashaft or pin, which pass through a central 0 ening of the sprocket wheel. which is constructed of sheet metal, or other suitable material, is bifurcated or cut away at its lower portions to provide a recess for the reception of the sprocket wheel, and the sides of the slide arebent or rolled upon The slide 11,

eyes 7 of the plate or themselves to form longitudinalopenings 12 for the reception of parallel side portions 13 of a hanger frame. The slide is adapted to move upward and downward on the hanger frame, which consists of a wire body portion and a top connecting plate 14, which has its side edges rolled to form beads 15 for the reception of upper ends of the sides of the wire body portion of the hanger frame. The wire body portion is composed of two sides, which are secured at their upper terminals in the beads 15 of the connecting plate, and which are connected at their lower ends by a transverse bar or portion 16. The lower portions of the sides are bent rearwardly to form projecting arms 17, which are approximately U-shaped. These arms are adapted to fit against the wall, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, for off-setting the sprocket wheel and the chain therefrom, so that the sprocket wheel will rotate freely when it is unlocked, as hereinafter fully explained. The parallel guiding portions 13 of the hanger frame-are also off-set from the wall by the arm 17 and by upper intermediate bends 18, and the slide 1s movable upwardly and downwardly on the said guiding portions 18 to carry the sprocket wheel into and out of engagement with the bottom transverse connecting bar or portion 16. When the sprocket wheel is subjected to the weight of the picture, two of its teeth are caused to straddle the transverse bar or portion 16, whereby the sprocket wheel is interlocked with the hanger frame and is held against rotary movement.

The slide is automatically movedu wardly by a coiled spring 19 to disengage it rom the hanger frame, when it is relieved of the weight of the picture. The coiled spring is located between the sides of the hanger frame and its lower end is secured to the top of the slide in a perforation 20 thereof, and when the sprocket wheel is lifted out of engagement with the bottom of the hanger rame by the spring, the said sprocket wheel is adapted to rotate freely to permit the picture to be tilted to any angle or inclination. As soon as the picture is adjusted to the desired angle or inclination, its weight will move the slide downwardly and carry the sprocket wheel into engagement with the transverse bar or portion of the hanger frame.

The upper end of the spring 19 is connected with one arm of an approximately L-shaped latch 21, which is fulcrumed at its angle and which is adapted to lock the hanger frame in engagement with a nail or screw. The latch 21 is provided at its angle with laterally rojecting pivots 22, and it has an inwar y or rearwardly extending arm 28, which is provided with a perforation into which the upper end 24 of the spring is hooked. The pivots 22 are arranged in suitablev bearings of ears or flanges 25, which are formed integral with the connecting late 14 and which extends outwardly there rom at the lower end thereof. The other arm of the latch extends upwardly and is provided at the top with an inwardly bent lip or portion 26.

The up er ortion of the connecting plate 14 is rovlde with a key hole slot 27 having its en arged portion or entrance opening 28 at the bottom to enable the head of a nail or screw to be assed through the slot. The lip or flange 0 the latch is held against the connecting late 14 by the spring 19, and it covers the ower enlarged ortion 28 of the slot 27, and when the nai or screw is arranged in the upper portion of the slot 27, the latch will lock the same in such upper portion and effectually prevent the picture from being accidentally knocked down.

The hanger frame is provided at the top with a wire molding hook 29, composed of two sides provided at their lower terminals with eyes 30, which are linked into perforations of the upper end of the plate 14. The hook 29 is ada ted to engage a molding strip 31, as clearly s own in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and the picture hanger may be hung with equal facility from either a picture molding or a nail or screw.

It will be seen that the picture hanger is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction; that it is easily operated to arrange a picture at the desired angle or inclination, and that the picture is automatically locked at any ad ustment, when the picture hanger is subjected to the weight of the picture.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame, a centrally journaled sprocket wheel mounted on the frame, and a picture cord having a chain passed at an intermediate point partially around the wheel and having one end extended to the top and the other end to the bottom of the picture frame, said picture cord being movable over the sprocket wheel to change the inclination of the picture frame, and means carried by the hanger frame for automatically locking the wheel against rotary movement when subjected to the weight of the picture frame.

2. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame, a centrally journaled sprocket wheel slidably mounted on the hanger frame to carry its teeth into and out of engagement with the said frame to lock and release the sprocket wheel, and a picture cord consisting of a sprocket chain intermediately supported by and meshing with the sprocket wheel and provided at its ends with means for attaching it to the top and bottom of a picture frame, said picture cord being composed of a substantially vertical lower portion extending downwardly from the hanger frame, and

an upper portion extending outwardly from the hanger frame, and yieldable means for carrying the sprocket wheel out of engagement with the hanger frame when the chain is relieved of the weight of the picture frame.

3. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame, and a picture cord supported at an intermediate point by the hanger frame and consisting of an upper outwardly extending portion provided with means for attaching it to the to of a picture frame, and a lower substantialfy vertical portion extending downwardly from the hanger frame, and a substantially V-shaped brace centrally secured to the lower end of the picture cord and provided at its ends with means for pivotally connecting it to the bottom of the picture frame at opposite sides thereof.

4. A picture hanger comprising a flexible connection provided at its ends with means for securing it to a picture frame at the top and bottom thereof and shiftable longitudinally to change the inclination of the said picture frame, a hanger frame provided with yieldable means receiving the flexible connection at an intermediate point and operated by the weight of the picture to lock the flexible connection, said means being adapted to automatically release the flexible connection when relieved of the weight of the picture.

5. A picture hanger comprising a flexible connection having means for sus ending a picture frame from it and shiftab e longitudinally to change the inclination of the same, a hanger frame, and a yieldably mounted rotary device carried by the hanger frame and receiving the flexible connection at a point intermediate ofthe ends thereof and operated by the weight of the picture to lock it against movement, said rotary device being automatically released when relieved of the weight of the picture.

6. A picture hanger comprising a chain having means for suspending a picture frame from its ends and shiftable longitudinally to change the inclination of the picture frame, a hanger frame, and a yieldably mounted sprocket wheel receiving the chain at a point between the ends thereof and being movable into engagement with the hanger frame by the weight of the picture, whereby the said sprocket Wheel is locked against rotary movement, said sprocket wheel being automatically moved out of such engagement when relieved of the weight of the picture.

7. A picture hanger comprising a chain having means for suspending a picture frame from its ends and shiftable longitudinally to change the inclination of the picture frame, a hanger frame, a sprocket wheel slidable on the hanger frame and receiving the chain, said hanger frame being provided with from its ends and shiftable longitudinally to change the inclination of the picture frame, a-hanger frame, a sprocket Wheel mounted on the hanger frame and movable into and out of engagement with the same and receiving the chain, and a spring for automatically moving the sprocket wheel out of engagement'with the hanger frame.

9. A picture hanger comprising a chain having means for suspendin a picture frame from its ends and shiftable l change the inclination of the picture frame, a hanger frame, a slide mounted on the hanger frame, a s rocket wheel carried by the slide and receiving the chain and movable into engagement with the hanger frame by the weight of the picture, and a spring for moving the sprocket wheel out of engagement with the hanger frame when relieved of the weight of the picture.

10. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame provided with a cross piece having projecting arms, a slide mounted on the ianger frame, a sprocket wheel carried by the slide and arranged to enga e the said cross piece, a chain arranged on t e sprocket wheel having means for connecting it with a picture, and a s ring connected with the slide for moving t e sprocket Wheel out of engagement with the cross piece when it is relieved of the Weight of the picture.

11. A picture hanger provided with a slot having an enlarged portion to permit the head of a screw or nail to pass through it,

and a s ring actuated latch arranged to cover the en arged portion of the slot to confine the nail or screw in the other portion of the same.

12. A picture hanger provided with a slot having an enlarged portion, a substantially L-shaped latch pivoted at its angle to the picture hanger and provided at one of its arms with a lip arranged to cover the enlarged portion of the slot, and a s ring connected with the other arm of the atch.

13. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame having a slot to receive a supporting device, a rotary member slidable on the frame, locking means mounted on the frame and arranged to hold the same in engagement with the said supporting device, a flexible connection arranged on the rotary member and provided with means for connecting it with a picture, whereby the weight of the picture will carry the rotary member into engagement With the frame, and a spring for moving the rotary member out of en age- ,ment with the frame, when relieved o the weight of the picture frame, said spring being connected with the locking means.

ongitudinally to 14. A picture hanger com rising a hanger frame, a sprocket wheel sli ably connected with the hanger frame and arranged to engage the same, a flexible connection arranged on the sprocket wheel and adapted to be secured to a picture, a latch pivotally mounted on the hanger frame, and a spring for moving the sprocket wheel out of engagement with the frame when relieved of the weight of the icture frame, said spring being connected wlth the latch and adapted to be placed under tension by the weight of a picture.

15. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame, a picture cord supported at an intermediate point by the hanger frame and movable through the same and provided at its ends with means for connecting it with the top and bottom of a picture frame, and a movable locking device operable by the weight of the picture frame for engaging the picture cord to secure the same in its adjustment.

16. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame having a slot to receive a supporting device, a slide mounted on the han er frame, a rotary member carried by the slide, looking means mounted on the frame and arranged to hold the same in engagement with the supporting device, a flexible connection arranged on the rotary member and provided with means for suspending a picture from it, whereby the weight of the picture will carry the rotary member into engagement with the frame, and a spring connected with the rotary member and with the locking means.

17. A picture hanger comprising a hanger frame, a slide mounted thereon, a sprocket wheel carried by the slide and arranged to engage the hanger frame, a flexible connection arranged on the sprocket wheel and provided with means for suspending a picture from it, a latch pivotally mounted on the hanger frame, and a spring connected with the latch and with the slide and adapted to be placed under tension by the weight of a picture.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH NEWTON COPELAND.

WVitnesses:

J. F. THOMPSON, J. N. RIoKLEs. 

